Congressman Cohen and Senator Alexander to Preside at Ceremony to Rename Federal Building
Washington, DC – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) will speak at a ceremony renaming the Clifford Davis Federal Building as the Clifford Davis and Odell Horton Federal Building at 10 a.m. Friday, August 24. The ceremony will take place on the south side of the building located at 167 N. Main.
House Resolution 753 authorizing the renaming of the Federal Building was sponsored by Congressman Cohen and passed in the House of Representatives on March 26. The bill was sponsored by Senator Lamar Alexander in the Senate, where it passed on April 10, and was signed into law on May 2. The entire Tennessee Congressional Delegation signed onto the resolution as co-sponsors.
Congressman Cohen stated, “It is appropriate that Judge Odell Horton be honored and remembered in this way for his contributions to his city, his state and his country. Judge Horton was the kind of role model that our community can look to with pride and respect. His life of public service will long be remembered.”
Congressman Cohen continued, “It has been an honor and a pleasure working with Judge Horton’s family to make this a reality and I know that they are most appreciative, as am I, of Senator Alexander’s willingness to bring this legislation to fruition in the Senate.”
Senator Alexander shared his admiration of Judge Horton as well. “Judge Odell Horton left a remarkable legacy as the first African-American U.S. District Court Judge appointed in Tennessee since Reconstruction,” said Alexander. “Adding his name to the Federal Building is symbolic of the transition that took place in Memphis and across the South during Judge Horton’s lifetime and my lifetime. I’m proud that this was Congressman Cohen’s first legislative action and I hope the addition of Judge Horton’s name will be a reminder that our country has been and continues to be a work in progress, committed to equal opportunity for all.”
In 1980, President Jimmy Carter appointed Judge Horton as the first African-American Federal judge in Tennessee since Reconstruction. Previously, in 1962, Judge Horton was named Assistant U.S. Attorney. He also served as the first African-American member of the Mayor Henry Loeb’s city administration as the head of health and hospitals receiving the L.M. Graves Memorial Health Award for his efforts in 1968. From 1970 to 1974, he served as president of LeMoyne-Owen College. The judge died in 2006 at the age of 76.
In addition to Senator Alexander and Congressman Cohen, those expected at the renaming ceremony include members of the Horton family, Mayor W. W. Herenton, Mayor A C Wharton, Dr. Benjamin L. Hooks and Bishop William Graves, presiding prelate First Episcopal District.
-30-
Contact:
Marilyn Dillihay, Press Secretary, 202-225-3265
Susan Sowell, Executive Assistant, 901-544-4131 or 202-431-1607 (mobile)